PARIS — Grocery stores and other businesses were looted in Paris and several cities across France after demonstrations over the cost of living turned violent on October 17, 2026. Masked people were seen forcing their way into shops and leaving with food, drinks and other goods, while businesses reported smashed windows and damage to their premises.
In Paris, retailers named in reports included Franprix, Monoprix, Picard and Carrefour City. At one Franprix, people were seen carrying bags containing juice, alcohol and cakes; other accounts described shelves emptied and products scattered or crushed inside stores. Shops selling clothing, electronics and luxury goods were also targeted.
The disorder was not limited to the capital. Reports cited looting and vandalism in Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Bordeaux, Limoges, Lille, Toulouse and Strasbourg, where supermarkets and other businesses were among those attacked. The damage disrupted local commerce and left shop owners facing costly repairs and lost stock.
The looting unfolded amid broader protests against rising living costs and political uncertainty. Demonstrations drew large crowds, but violence and theft were condemned by government leaders. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said authorities had arrested 1,200 people nationwide and that at least 150 police officers had been injured, according to reporting published after the unrest.
The episode has sharpened concerns about public order and the impact of unrest on residents and small businesses. Store workers and owners were left to contend with broken entrances, damaged interiors and interrupted operations as cleanup began. Police remained deployed in affected areas, and curfews were reported in some cities.
As authorities assess the damage and pursue those responsible, grocery stores; essential neighborhood services are among the establishments left to recover.
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